Abandoned cleaners gets city’s attention

By RANDAL YAKEY | The News Herald

Published: Friday, October 25, 2013 at 08:20 PM.

According to Douglas Sale, Floyd’s attorney, a lien would be placed on the property that would allow for Floyd to have about five years to pay the city back for the demolition costs. Sale said an environmental study is nearly complete on the site.

“Bud (Floyd) has agreed to consent to a demolition,” Sale said. “The city has said it was too expensive.”

Even if the city chipped in with the demolition and the state paid for the cleanup, Floyd said he still would retain ownership of the property.

Whitson said he would not recommend using eminent domain to have the city take over the property for redevelopment; that tactic is frowned upon, he added.

It’s unclear when, or if ever, the building would be removed, but Livingston agreed the building was unsightly.

PANAMA CITY — It’s an eerie scene inside the old cleaners at 417 Grace Ave. in downtown Panama City.

Peering through the window of the shuttered business, bricks can be seen strewn on the floor, along with stacks of fabric, what appears to be a rack of military uniforms, a discarded gas can and an assortment of broken bottles and glass shards. Three pairs of trousers hang at the front counter waiting for a customer who will never show.

Described by code enforcement as being filled with “trash” and “junk,” the building’s insides seem to have been shuffled around, but little has been done to clean up the old structure.

The sign out front that used to say “Domestic Laundry Cleaners” has been removed.

The structure now is abandoned and open to whomever may have the gumption to climb in.

A sign on the front door refers to a hearing dated in March of this year. Still, nothing has been done to remove the trash and blight.

Panama City code enforcement officer Lance Livingston said the building was “unsafe and unfit” for habitation. The city said it has been closed for at least the last four years.

“It’s not going to collapse on anybody,” Livingston said.

According to a report by Panama City code enforcement, the facility has been investigated for being an unsafe structure, abandoned and discarded objects.

In the report, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Director William Whitson said he had talked to Yarborough Floyd, the property owner, about demolishing the structure. Floyd told Whitson he could not afford to pay at least 50 percent of the demolition costs, which Whitson said was an “early ballpark estimate” of about $125,000 plus environmental costs.

Floyd said the property, if properly cleaned, is worth about $1 million.

“Most of the clothes in there are mine,” Floyd told The News Herald.

Floyd said there is contamination on the site from chemicals used when the dry cleaning business was open.

“The state has agreed to the cleanup,” Floyd said.

According to Douglas Sale, Floyd’s attorney, a lien would be placed on the property that would allow for Floyd to have about five years to pay the city back for the demolition costs. Sale said an environmental study is nearly complete on the site.

“Bud (Floyd) has agreed to consent to a demolition,” Sale said. “The city has said it was too expensive.”

Even if the city chipped in with the demolition and the state paid for the cleanup, Floyd said he still would retain ownership of the property.

Whitson said he would not recommend using eminent domain to have the city take over the property for redevelopment; that tactic is frowned upon, he added.

It’s unclear when, or if ever, the building would be removed, but Livingston agreed the building was unsightly.